Piling System

ABSTRACT

A pile comprises a first side portion configured as a section of the pile and comprising first and second edges. A second side portion comprising first and second edges and is configured to slidably engage with the respective second and first edges of the first side portion, wherein the first edge is configured to slidably engage the second edge. When engaged, the two side portions form a substantially hollow pile and the side portions form junctions between the two side portions that are located inside the outermost boundary of the pile.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. ______ filed on Apr. 6, 2009, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to piles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the need for a pile that is easier totransport and is less prone to deterioration. Other advantages are alsoseen in the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pile. In a variant, the pilecomprises a first side portion comprising first and second edges, thefirst side portion configured as a section of a pile. A second sideportion comprises first and second edges configured to slidably engagewith the respective second and first edges of the first side portion.The first edge is configured to slidably engage the second edge. Whenengaged, the two side portions form a substantially hollow pile and theside portions form junctions between the two side portions that arelocated inside the outermost boundary of the pile.

In another variant, the pile comprises a female slot disposed along thelength of the first edge and a male member disposed along the length ofthe second edge configured for being slidably received into the femaleslot forming the junction between the two side portions. The pile may beformed by aligning the first and second side portions end on end suchthat a first edge of the first side portion is matched to the secondedge of the second side portion and the two portions are slid togetheralong each other's length to form the pile.

In a further variant, the side portions form a groove on either side ofthe pile adjacent to the junction.

In still another variant, the pile comprises a solar power electricalsystem comprising: a thin film solar cell mounted to the side of thepile; a battery for storing electric charge generated by the solar cell,mounted inside the hollow pile; and a least one electric load deviceconnected to the battery and positioned in the groove.

In yet a further variant, the pile comprises a gap infill having anouter side and is sized and shaped to fill the groove. The gap infill isconfigured such that the outer side will substantially align with theouter boundary of the pile when the gap infill is inserted into thegroove.

In another variant of the pile, when engaged the side portions form acavity on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction. The cavityis formed from a part of the first side portion suspended over a valleyformed in the second side portion.

In a further variant of the pile, a part of the of the second sideportion is suspended over the valley in the second side portion, whereinwhen engaged, the side portions form a throat between the first andsecond side portions that leads into the cavity.

In still another variant, the cavity runs along substantially the entirelength of the pile. The pile further comprises a carriage disposed inthe cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respectivedimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls. The carriage isconfigured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile.

In yet a further variant, the carriage is a roller carriage, comprisingwheels positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the length ofthe cavity. The carriage comprises a cleat connected to the carriage anddisposed outside the outer boundary of the pile.

In another variant, the cavity runs along substantially the entirelength of the pile, and the throat is formed by two side walls thatleads into the cavity. The pile comprises a roller carriage disposed inthe cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respectivedimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls. The carriage isconfigured to slide within the cavity along the length of the pile. Thecarriage comprises a plurality of wheels, wherein one wheel ispositioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the floor of thelength of the cavity, and one wheel is configured to roll against a wallof the throat. The carriage optionally has a cleat connected to thecarriage and disposed outside the outer boundary of the pile.

In a further variant, the pile comprises a pile tip, generally conicalin shape and configured to engage an end of the first and second sideportions such that a tip of the pile tip points away from the sideportions.

In still another variant, the pile comprises a mechanism between thepile tip and the side portions for locking the pile tip to the sideportions comprising a male piece for being received into a slot.

In yet a further variant, a system for constructing a pile, comprises:at least two side portions configured as a section of a pile having alength and comprised generally as a curved surface having asubstantially constant cross section along the entire length of the sideportion; and a side portion connector configured for slidablyinterlocking with the side portions to form a hollow pile.

In a variant, the system comprises two side portion connectors and twoside portions, wherein the side portions are identical in shape and atleast one side portion connector has a channel. Each side portion isconfigured to slidably interlock with a side portion connector on eitherside of the side portion such that four junctions are formed interior toan outer boundary of the pile by assembling the two side portions withthe two side portion connectors.

In another variant of the system, the channel disposed on the sideportion connector comprises a throat that leads to a cavity and both runalong the side portion connector. The side portion connector isconfigured such that when the pile is assembled, the cavity is disposedinterior to the outer boundary of the pile.

In a further variant of the system, one side portion connector has agroove that runs along the side portion connector, and the side portionconnector is configured such that when the pile is assembled, the grooveis disposed interior to the outer boundary of the pile.

In yet another variant, the side portions and the side portionconnectors are formed by a pultrusion process.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the featuresin accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely bythe claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. Thesedrawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of theinvention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments ofthe invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanyingdescriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side”views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply orrequire that the invention be implemented or used in a particularspatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of side portion of the pile;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connecteddirectly together.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of a pile in accordance with the principlesof the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connecteddirectly together forming a groove in the side of the pile

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connecteddirectly together forming a cavity in the side of the pile;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connectedtogether via side portion connector forming a cavity in the side of thepile;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of two side portions connectedtogether via side portion connector forming a groove in the side of thepile;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a roller carriage;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the roller carriage;

FIG. 10 is perspective view of the pile illustrating and end configuredto connect to a pile tip;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the pile illustrating and end configured toconnect to a pile tip;

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that theinvention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and thatthe invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

From time-to-time, the present invention is described herein in terms ofexample environments. Description in terms of these environments isprovided to allow the various features and embodiments of the inventionto be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. Afterreading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different andalternative environments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, applications,published applications and other publications referred to herein areincorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forthin this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with adefinition set forth in applications, published applications and otherpublications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definitionset forth in this document prevails over the definition that isincorporated herein by reference.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a pilefor supporting structures. In one variant, referring to FIGS. 1-3, thepile 10 comprises: a first side portion 15 comprising first 20 andsecond edges 25. The term “edge” refers generally to the regions of theside portion 15 referred to by letters A and B in FIG. 1 and numerals 20and 25, and translated along the length of the side portion 15. Edgedoes not necessarily mean the exact end of the side portion 15, but to ageneral region that may include the end.

A second side portion 15 comprises first 20 and second edges 25configured to slidably engage with the respective second 25 and firstedges of the first side portion, wherein the first edge 20 is configuredto slidably engage the second edge 25. The side portions 15 areconfigured as a section of a hollow pile 10. When engaged, the two sideportions 15 form a substantially hollow pile 10 as shown in FIG. 3, andjunctions 30 are formed between the two side portions 15 that arelocated inside the outermost boundary 35 of the pile.

In a variant, the pile has a female slot 40 disposed along the length ofthe first edge 20 and a male member 45 disposed along the length of thesecond edge configured for being slidably received into the female slotforming the junction 30 between the two side portions. The pile 10 maybe formed by aligning the first and second side portions 15 end on endsuch that a first edge 20 of the first side portion is matched to thesecond edge 25 of the second side portion and the two portions are slidtogether along each other's length to form the pile 10.

In another variant of the pile, referring to FIG. 4, the side portions15 form a groove 50 on either side of the pile adjacent to the junction.

In a further variant, the pile comprises a solar power electrical systemcomprising: a thin film solar cell 55 mounted to the side of the pile; abattery 60 for storing electric charge generated by the solar cell,mounted inside the hollow pile 10; and a least one electric load device65 connected to the battery and optionally positioned in the groove. Forexample, the electric load device may be a lamp. In another example, theelectric load device may be a water pump for supply water pressure to afire hose. The battery may be mounted inside the pile via a mountingbracket 70. The then film solar cell 55 may be shaped to conform to theouter surface 35 of the pile 10.

In still another variant, the pile comprises a gap infill 75 having anouter side 80 and is sized and shaped to fill the groove 50. The gapinfill 75 may be configured wherein the outer side 80 will substantiallyalign with the outer boundary 35 of the pile when the gap infill 75 isinserted into the groove.

In yet a further variant of the pile, referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, whenthe side portions are engaged, they form a cavity 85 on either side ofthe pile adjacent to the junction 30. The cavity 85 is formed from apart 90 of the first side portion suspended over a valley 95 formed inthe second side portion.

In another variant of the pile, a part 100 of the of the second sideportion is suspended over the valley 95 in the second side portion,wherein when engaged, the side portions 15 form a throat 100 between thefirst and second side portions that leads into the cavity 85.

In a further variant of the pile, the cavity 85 runs along substantiallythe entire length of the pile, and, referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9,the pile has a carriage 110 disposed in the cavity 85 and is restrainedto remain in the cavity 85 by the respective dimensions of the carriage110 and the cavity walls. The carriage 110 is configured to slide withinthe cavity along the length of the pile.

In still another variant, the carriage is a roller carriage, comprisingtwo pairs of lateral rollers 115, a pair of rail rollers 120, and a pairof groove rollers 125. Two plates 130 and a stainless steel bar 135serve as a structural framework for connecting all the rollers on thecarriage. Optionally a cleat 140 may be connected to the plates 130. Therollers are positioned on the carriage and sized to roll along thelength of the cavity. The cleat 140 may be connected to the carriage anddisposed outside the outer boundary 35 of the pile. When the pile servesas a structural element for dock, boats may tie to the cleat and thecleat may slide up and down the pile pursuant to the rise and fall ofthe tide, thus preventing the cleat from becoming out of reach of theboat.

In yet a further variant of the pile, the cavity 85 runs alongsubstantially the entire length of the pile, and the throat 100 isformed by two side walls that lead into the cavity. The pile includes aroller carriage 110 disposed in the cavity 85 and restrained to remainin the cavity by the respective dimensions of the carriage 110 and thecavity walls. The carriage 110 is configured to slide within the cavity85 along the length of the pile. The carriage 110 may comprise aplurality of wheels or rollers, wherein one wheel 115 is optionallypositioned on the carriage 85 and sized to roll along the floor of thelength of the cavity. One wheel 125 is optionally configured to rollagainst a wall of the throat 100. Referring to FIG. 3, the carriage mayoptionally have a cleat 140 connected to the carriage and disposedoutside the outer boundary 35 of the pile. Optionally, the pile may havea roller collar ring 145 for preventing the cleat 140 from travelingpast a predetermined point. Optionally, a bumper bearing cavity 150 maybe formed by the roller collar ring for placement of a bumper 155.

In another variant, referring to FIGS. 10-12, the pile optionally has apile tip 160 that is generally conical in shape and configured to engagean end 165 of the first and second side portions such that a tip 170 ofthe pile tip points away from the side portions. Optionally, the pile asa mechanism between the pile tip and the side portions for locking thepile tip to the side portions. Optionally the mechanism may comprise thea slot 175 and a male piece 180 for being received in to the slot 175.

In another variant, a system for constructing a pile 10 is provided.Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 13, the system comprises at least two sideportions 15 configured as a section of a pile 10 having a length andcomprised generally as a curved surface having a substantially constantcross section along the entire length of the side portion 15. A sideportion connector 200 is configured for slidably interlocking with theside portions to form a hollow pile.

In a further variant, the system comprises two side portion connectors200 and two side portions 15. The side portions 15 are identical inshape and at least one side portion connector 200 has a channel 85 andwherein the each side portion is configured to slidably interlock with aside portion connector on either side of the side portion such that fourjunctions 30 are formed interior to an outer boundary 35 of the pile byassembling the two side portions with the two side portion connectors.

In still a further variant if the system, the channel is disposed on theside portion connector and comprises a throat 100 that leads to a cavity85 and both run along the side portion connector 200. The side portionconnector 200 is configured such that when the pile is assembled, thecavity 85 is disposed interior to the outer boundary 35 of the pile.

In yet a further variant of the system, one side portion connector 200has a groove 50 that runs along the side portion connector 200. The sideportion connector is configured such that when the pile is assembled,the groove 50 is disposed interior to the outer boundary 35 of the pile.The pile may be formed with various combinations of the side portionconnectors shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 depending on the needs of the builder.

In a preferred embodiment, the pile side portions and pile side portionconnectors described herein are preferably formed by a pultrusionprocess. The pile is constructed so such that the sides of the pile areparallel. This type of construction would prevent the effects ofice-jacking if the piling is used in dock construction. The pilingdescribed herein may be used in marina construction, waterfrontdevelopment, on and off shore residential property, bridges, utilitypoles, and many other construction applications.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for theinvention, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the invention. The invention isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but the desired features can be implemented using avariety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it willbe apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional,logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implementedto implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, amultitude of different constituent module names other than thosedepicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally,with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and methodclaims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall notmandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recitedfunctionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read asrequiring that each and every one of those items be present in thegrouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly statedotherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or”should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, butrather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly statedotherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of theinvention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural iscontemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to thesingular is explicitly stated.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “module” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the module are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of amodule, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in asingle package or separately maintained and can further be distributedacross multiple locations.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

1. A pile, comprising: a first side portion comprising first and secondedges, the first side portion configured as a section of a pile; asecond side portion comprising first and second edges configured toslidably engage with the respective second and first edges of the firstside portion, wherein the first edge is configured to slidably engagethe second edge; wherein when engaged, the two side portions form asubstantially hollow pile; wherein when engaged, the side portions formjunctions between the two side portions that are located inside theoutermost boundary of the pile.
 2. The pile of claim 1, wherein pilefurther comprises a female slot disposed along the length of the firstedge and a male member disposed along the length of the second edgeconfigured for being slidably received into the female slot forming thejunction between the two side portions; wherein the pile may be formedby aligning the first and second side portions end on end such that afirst edge of the first side portion is matched to the second edge ofthe second side portion and the two portions are slid together alongeach other's length to form the pile.
 3. The pile of claim 2, whereinthe side portions form a groove on either side of the pile adjacent tothe junction.
 4. The pile of claim 3, further comprising solar powerelectrical system comprising: a thin film solar cell mounted to the sideof the pile; a battery for storing electric charge generated by thesolar cell, mounted inside the hollow pile; a least one electric loaddevice connected to the battery and positioned in the groove.
 5. Thepile of claim 3, further comprising a gap infill having an outer sideand sized and shaped to fill the groove and the gap infill configuredwherein the outer side will substantially align with the outer boundaryof the pile when the gap infill is inserted into the groove.
 6. The pileof claim 1, wherein when engaged the side portions form a cavity oneither side of the pile adjacent to the junction, the cavity formed froma part of the first side portion suspended over a valley formed in thesecond side portion.
 7. The pile of claim 6, wherein a part of the ofthe second side portion is suspended over the valley in the second sideportion, wherein when engaged, the side portions form a throat betweenthe first and second side portions that leads into the cavity.
 8. Thepile of claim 6, wherein the cavity runs along substantially the entirelength of the pile, the pile further comprising: a carriage disposed inthe cavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respectivedimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls, the carriage configuredto slide within the cavity along the length of the pile.
 9. The pile ofclaim 8, wherein the carriage is a roller carriage, comprising wheelspositioned on the carriage and sized to roll along the length of thecavity, the carriage comprising a cleat connected to the carriage anddisposed outside the outer boundary of the pile.
 10. The pile of claim6, wherein the cavity runs along substantially the entire length of thepile, and the throat is formed by two side walls that leads into thecavity, the pile further comprising: a roller carriage disposed in thecavity and restrained to remain in the cavity by the respectivedimensions of the carriage and the cavity walls, the carriage configuredto slide within the cavity along the length of the pile, the carriagecomprising a plurality of wheels, wherein one wheel is positioned on thecarriage and sized to roll along the floor of the length of the cavity,and one wheel is configured to roll against a wall of the throat, thecarriage comprising a cleat connected to the carriage and disposedoutside the outer boundary of the pile.
 11. The pile of claim 10,further comprising a pile tip, generally conical in shape configured toengage an end of the first and second side portions such that a tip ofthe pile tip points away from the side portions.
 12. The pile of claim11, wherein the pile comprises a mechanism between the pile tip and theside portions for locking the pile tip to the side portions comprising amale piece for being received into a slot.
 13. A system for constructinga pile, comprising: at least two side portions configured as a sectionof a pile having a length and comprised generally as a curved surfacehaving a substantially constant cross section along the entire length ofthe side portion; a side portion connector configured for slidablyinterlocking with the side portions to form a hollow pile.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, comprising two side portion connectors and two sideportions, wherein the side portions are identical in shape and at leastone side portion connector has a channel and wherein each side portionis configured to slidably interlock with a side portion connector oneither side of the side portion such that four junctions are formedinterior to an outer boundary of the pile by assembling the two sideportions with the two side portion connectors.
 15. The system of claim14, wherein the channel disposed on the side portion connector comprisesa throat that leads to a cavity that both run along the side portionconnector, and the side portion connector is configured such that whenthe pile is assembled, the cavity is disposed interior to the outerboundary of the pile.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein one sideportion connector has a groove that runs along the side portionconnector, and the side portion connector is configured such that whenthe pile is assembled, the groove is disposed interior to the outerboundary of the pile.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the sideportions and the side portion connectors are formed by a pultrusionprocess.